Welton Rovers 10 Sidmouth Town 2

Welton progressed to the FA Vase First Round proper and also created further club history when they recorded their biggest ever FA Competition victory by thumping Sidmouth Town 10–2 down on the south coast on Saturday afternoon.

Sitting atop the Western League First Division table, and unbeaten so far this season, Rovers headed to the South Coast full of confidence but could not have anticipated victory in the manner in which it came, which was the first time Welton had hit double figures in a match since 1974.

Star of the show was centre-forward Courtney Charles who hit four goals, including a hat-trick inside the first 22 minutes.

Twice James Batchelor (who notched five assists throughout the game) threaded him through on goal for him to ably finish, before he completed his hat-trick from close range after a fumble from the beleaguered Sidmouth goalkeeper. Will Gould notched Rovers’ fourth on the half hour mark, and Welton will have been disappointed to have conceded before the break, through a well-taken goal from Town’s Scott Hughes. Still, a 4–1 lead at half-time had Rovers’ fans smiling.

Welton ran riot in the second half. First, Joe Ellis’ made it five with a well taken header, and as well as Charles’ fourth goal, substitutes Jake Bird and Kyle Box both got in on the act with a brace apiece.

At 7–1 Sidmouth got another goal back after a sloppy pass in the Rovers backline, but nothing could diminish the smiles of both players and supporters alike, on a special afternoon for fans of the Green Army.

The draw for the FA Vase First Round Proper has since been made and will see Welton travel to Gloucester to face Hellenic Premier Division side, Brimscombe & Thrupp. The higher division opposition will prove a stern test for Rovers, but it was Welton who were victorious the last time the two sides faced in the same competition, picking up a 3–1 win.